Daily Current Affairs · Last published 26 September 2026
UPSC Prelims Current Affairs: 26 September 2026
An Indian Express probe reveals internal Election Commission dissent over SIR, SEBI approves a common advertisement code, and Pakistan repels an Afghan incursion at Gulistan.
Indian Express investigation finds two Election Commissioners raised on-record objections 14 times over SIR functioning
An investigation published by The Indian Express on 25 September 2026 found that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months, four of them on a single day, to decisions taken during the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, including changes to the new voter registration form, the deletion and restoration of names in West Bengal, and access to the ECINet electoral roll database. Both Commissioners separately complained that key communications had been issued in the Commission's name without the approval of all three members, and Sandhu called one such change, involving the new voter registration form, unauthorised and illegal. The newspaper said the Commission did not respond to a questionnaire it sent seeking answers on the issues raised.
SEBI's 24 September board meeting also clears a common advertisement code and an overhauled settlement framework
At the same 24 September 2026 board meeting that cleared the Portfolio Managers Route for Investing in Mutual Fund units, the Securities and Exchange Board of India also approved a common advertisement code for its regulated entities, permitting the use of celebrity endorsements for brand or entity level promotion for the first time, while removing certain mandatory prior approval requirements for other advertisements. The board also approved changes to its settlement framework, including a new formula for computing settlement amounts, separate treatment for wrongful gains, a fast track mechanism for cases involving amounts up to Rs 10 lakh, and a 60 day window for settlement notices to be issued before formal proceedings begin.
Government disburses September salary and pension in advance, RBI approves special Sunday banking, ahead of the 28 to 30 September strike
With the United Forum of Bank Unions' three day strike, called principally over the five day banking week demand, set for 28 to 30 September 2026, the Finance Ministry's Department of Expenditure directed that the September salary and pension of all central government employees and pensioners be disbursed in advance on 25 September, to be treated as an advance payment adjusted against October's salary and pension. Separately, the Reserve Bank of India approved special functioning of all Public Sector Bank and Regional Rural Bank branches, offices, ATM linked branches and currency chests on Sunday, 27 September, so that the preceding weekend combined with the strike does not leave banking services suspended for an extended stretch running into the half yearly closing on 30 September.
Technology Development Board signs Rs 200 crore agreement with Agnikul Cosmos to develop a fully reusable Agnibaan launch vehicle
The Technology Development Board, under the Department of Science and Technology, signed an agreement on 25 September 2026 with Chennai based Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited for Rs 200 crore in financial support under the Research Development and Innovation Fund, to be provided through Optionally Convertible Debentures. The project aims to develop a fully reusable version of Agnikul's Agnibaan launch vehicle, taking the underlying technology from Technology Readiness Level 4 and above to Level 8, using a lightweight upper stage and a semi-cryogenic propulsion system capable of deep throttling and restart. Agnikul had earlier developed Agnibaan, India's first launch vehicle to fly with a single piece 3D printed engine, the Agnilet.
Ministry of Minority Affairs signs MoUs with IISc, IIM Bangalore and IIT Madras for scheme monitoring and minority startup funding
The Ministry of Minority Affairs signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, on 25 September 2026, in the presence of Minority Affairs Secretary Srivatsa Krishna. Under the agreements, IIM Bengaluru will carry out independent third party monitoring of training under the PM VIKAS scheme, while the Centre for Urbanization, Buildings and Environment at IIT Madras will conduct quality assessment of infrastructure projects built under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram. Two further tripartite MoUs, with the IISc promoted Foundation for Science Innovation and Development and with IIM Bangalore's NSRCEL, will support startups, incubation and enterprise development for minority communities under the Prime Minister Minority Venture Fund framework.
Pakistan says it repelled an attempted Afghan Taliban incursion at Gulistan on the Durand Line, as cross border tension resumes
Pakistani security sources said several Afghan Taliban fighters were killed on 25 September 2026 after Pakistani forces repelled an attempted incursion in the Gulistan area along the Durand Line, with fighting continuing through the day. The clash marks a resumption of tension after a period of relative calm, following a militant attack on a police facility in northwestern Pakistan the previous week. Afghanistan's Taliban government said Pakistani air strikes separately killed four civilians, while a Taliban spokesperson alleged Islamabad was deliberately framing the confrontation as a war with Afghanistan to avoid its commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey in August.
Vidya Bharati holds 'Namami Bharatam' mass recitation of Vande Mataram to mark 150 years of the national song
Vidya Bharati and Shiksha Samiti Assam organised Namami Bharatam at the Shrimanta Sankardev International Auditorium in Guwahati on 25 September 2026, a mass recitation event marking 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram, with former Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi (Retd) attending as chief guest. The Guwahati event was one of similar mass participation programmes held across multiple states through 2026 as part of a broader, year-long nationwide commemoration of Vande Mataram's 150th anniversary.